Two superheroes, a brother, friends, an opera, and green tea

23042011

Three Philip Steins and an iPhone 4. I shared this dinner with Brother, Spongebob's best friend, and Green Lantern.

A LINE is always a good sign. Rachael Ray told me so. Friendship told me so. And for the few times I did get another one of Friendship’s recommendations – 4 FINGeRS Bonchon Crispy Chicken at Ion Food Hall at Ion Orchard – there was always a line.

Sometimes, it took quite a while to get to the front especially when some couple would choose to take their sweet time debating on the merits of soy garlic against hot & spicy, with total inconsideration of the people down the line.

Now serving one of Korea's influences on Singapore, Bonchon Crispy Chicken!

Whenever that happened, I’d whip out my camera and would just take photos. With much care I must say, especially after being told to stop taking photos at a couple of establishments. So when I noticed that someone was slowly approaching me right when I was trying to establish focus on the restaurant sign, I hurriedly took the snapshot and pretended to just be reviewing my camera’s photos.

“eNTeNG! Having dinner here?” the slowly approaching someone asked. I lifted my head up from my pretend business with the camera, and smiled at the familiar face now in front of me. The Boy Wonder!

“I’m here with friends. I’m treating them to dinner. I’m just here to get chicken and fries. Care to join us? No, join us!”

Finally, 4 FINGeRS Crispy Chicken has landed! This was one of three boxes.

Clever marketing ploy all over the box top.

So after The Boy Wonder was done with his dinner at 4 FINGeRS, he moved to Food Opera, Ion Orchard’s high-end food court, where my friends and I were at. It was the second time I was picking up the tab. I had such a great time having lunch with them at CareShop de Café that I felt we had to have a repeat. And yes, on me.

Once settled in my seat after having ordered my Fishball Mee Kia Soup (with extra mee kia!) and a tall glass of Fresh Lychee Juice, I made a belated realization that among those sharing the table with me were two of my superhero best friends – The Boy Wonder and Green Lantern – and Brother! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!

My friends, on the escalator ride that would take them to the subterranean foodie heaven that is Food Opera, the high-end food hall at Ion Orchard.

Queuing up in front of the Teochew Fishball Noodle Soup stall. The Boy Wonder snapped this shot.

Brian's "bee hon" noodle soup was chockful with tofu!

Brian and that big bowl of noodles!

Patrick, Brother, and Brian

The Boy Wonder is in the house!

Green Lantern's "mee kia" noodle soup had a lot of vegetables and seafood rolls and meatballs.

Green Lantern and that big bowl of noodles!

Exactly where I wanted to be... Sharing the dinner table with friends, including two superheroes and a brother! Food Opera was full that night but we seemed to have perfect timing and found this long table just when it was being freed up.

We capped the night off with coffee at Starbucks on the second basement level of Ion Orchard. “Coffee” actually turned out to be Green Tea Latte over ice for everybody. Green Lantern asked for it – it’s his favorite! – and everybody else ended up wanting to try the same, save for Syvil who had the lone hot drink.

The verdict on the green tea latte over ice? Unanimously favorable, with a high chance of repeats. As to the night overall? Priceless.

Dinner's done! My friends and I now head from Basement 4 to Basement 2 for Starbucks!

I clipped the newspaper article that announced Starbucks's re-design of their cups. Before I left Manila on the 13th of March, the cups weren't changed yet. It was in Singapore that I got my hands on the new ones!

Patrick, Brian, John & Syvil, Green Lantern, and Brother

What I wore to dinner. And how I wore my hair!

I met up Brian and Green Lantern at Muji first. Then, we picked up Brother and the rest of the group at Havaianas.